Jesus wants to cleanse us, Pope tells prisoners

September 28, 2015

Pope Francis visited detainees at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia on September 27 and told them that Jesus Christ wishes to wash their feet and accompany them throughout life.

“Life means ‘getting our feet dirty, from the dust-filled roads of life and history,” he said. “All of us need to be cleansed, to be washed. All of us are being sought out by the Teacher, who wants to help us resume our journey. The Lord goes in search of us; to all of us he stretches out a helping hand.”

“It is painful when we see prison systems which are not concerned to care for wounds, to soothe pain, to offer new possibilities,” the Pope continued. “It is painful when we see people who think that only others need to be cleansed, purified, and do not recognize that their weariness, pain and wounds are also the weariness, pain and wounds of society.”

After speaking of the importance of prison as a place of rehabilitation, the Pope concluded:

Let us look to Jesus, who washes our feet.  He is “the way, and the truth, and the life”.  He comes to save us from the lie that says no one can change.  He helps us to journey along the paths of life and fulfillment.  May the power of his love and his resurrection always be a path leading you to new life.

 

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Further information:

• Apostolic Journey of the Holy Father to Cuba, to the United States of America and Visit to the United Nations Headquarters (19-28 September 2015) (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope in Cuba and USA (Vatican Radio)
• Vatican YouTube coverage